Psalm 84
How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts! 2My soul longs, indeed it faints
for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.
3Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God.
4Happy are those who live in your house, ever singing your praise.
5Happy are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
6As they go through the valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools. 7They go from strength to strength; the God of gods will be seen in Zion. 8O Lord GOD of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob!
9Behold our shield, O God; look on the face of your anointed. 10For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than live in the tents of wickedness. 11For the Lord GOD is a sun and shield; he bestows favor and honor. No good thing does the LORD withhold from those who walk uprightly.
12O LORD of hosts, happy is everyone who trusts in you.
for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.
3Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God.
4Happy are those who live in your house, ever singing your praise.
5Happy are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
6As they go through the valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools. 7They go from strength to strength; the God of gods will be seen in Zion. 8O Lord GOD of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob!
9Behold our shield, O God; look on the face of your anointed. 10For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than live in the tents of wickedness. 11For the Lord GOD is a sun and shield; he bestows favor and honor. No good thing does the LORD withhold from those who walk uprightly.
12O LORD of hosts, happy is everyone who trusts in you.
I have a confession. When I received the task to write a devotional, I was not happy. I thought, “Don’t they know how busy I am? Don’t they know I’m trying to write my dissertation? When will I find the time for this?” etc. etc. But then it dawned on me that there was probably a reason I was given this task and this specific bible passage. So when I finally took the time to sit down, read the passage and reflect on it, I couldn’t help but chuckle. What a wake-up call! Reading the passage reminded me of how it feels when God is at the center of my life. When I consistently spend time with Him, I feel great joy every day, in every aspect of my day, much like the author of this passage.
Through my reflection on this passage, I’ve realized that I have let life get in the way of my relationship with God. In my busyness, I’ve neglected to spend time with Him. I’ve tried to control everything, rather than just resting back and realizing that God is in control. “Happy are those whose strength is in you…” Yes, I need to again put God at the center of my life. I am certain that once I do, life will once again seem less chaotic, less busy, despite the circumstances - “O Lord of hosts, happy is everyone who trusts in you.”
Christine Mounger
For reflection:
How does your “life gotten in the way” of your relationship with God?
If you were to draw a diagram of your life, what would be at the center? What would be at the periphery?
What would need to change in order to get your priorities better in proper alignment?
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